Many rural communities in north dakota are at risk of losing essential services that keep them vibrant and livable

The North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC) received a $299,973 project grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Housing Service under the Rural Cooperative Development Grants program (CFDA 10.771) for the 2025-2026 workplan period (award date: September 30, 2025; completion date: September 29, 2026). This funding supports NDAREC's Rural and Cooperative Development Center in delivering comprehensive technical assistance and applied research to address critical challenges facing rural North Dakota communities, particularly the closure of independent grocery stores and limited access to locally-grown food products.

NDAREC will provide an integrated portfolio of cooperative development services, including feasibility studies, business planning support, governance training, and one-on-one mentoring to rural business leaders, farmers, ranchers, and community members. The project encompasses educational workshops and conferences, outreach activities such as tours and webinars, and updated resource guides designed to promote cooperative and community-based solutions. These services target the stabilization of existing rural businesses, the launch of new cooperative ventures—particularly grocery and food system cooperatives—and the strengthening of connections between producers and consumers in persistent poverty counties and underserved rural communities across North Dakota.

Independent grocery stores, which serve as anchors of small towns, are closing at alarming rates due to unfair corporate competition, high wholesale costs, a lack of workforce and succession planning as well as viable paths to new ownership. Farmers and ranchers face challenges in bringing locally grown and processed foods to market, while families in persistent poverty counties often struggle to access healthy, affordable options. At the same time, other rural needs – such as access to home care, housing, and reliable local news – are becoming harder to meet as populations age, businesses transition, and traditional systems fail. Without action, these challenges threaten the resilience of rural communities, the strength of local economies, and the quality of life for residents. This project, the 2025-2026 workplan of the ndarec rural and cooperative development center, addresses those challenges by advancing cooperative and community-based solutions that help rural people work together to meet shared needs. Through a mix of applied research, hands-on technical assistance, practical education, and connections to resources, the project will help grocery owners, farmers, ranchers, business leaders, and community members explore and adopt cooperative approaches. Activities will include conducting feasibility studies, supporting business planning, hosting workshops and conferences, and providing one-on-one mentoring to rural leaders. Outreach efforts such as tours, webinars, and updated resource guides will ensure that knowledge about successful cooperative models is widely shared. These methods are designed to give rural people the tools they need to stabilize existing businesses, launch new cooperative ventures, and build stronger connections between producers and consumers. The ultimate goal of this work is to ensure rural north dakota remains a place where families can thrive, businesses can grow, and communities can sustain themselves over the long term. By helping grocery stores remain open, creating new food hubs, expanding local processing, and piloting cooperatives in areas such as home care and local news, the project will improve access to essential goods and services, preserve jobs, and keep wealth circulating locally. The broader impact extends well beyond individual towns: stronger rural communities support state and national food security, contribute to healthier populations, and enhance economic stability. In short, this project strengthens the cooperative fabric of rural life – helping north dakotans preserve their way of life while building a foundation for future growth.